Magician Archives - Southport and Formby Association of the National Trust

Our first speaker of the Autumn season was Magician Pete Turner who presented Heads I win,Tails you lose. Peter’s main theme was how he used an understanding of probability to solve various problems. This was reinforced by asking questions and observing body language. He was then able to determine what card a person was holding. The explanation seems plausible but it still seems like magic to me. If a trick didn’t go as planned he solved it with a magicians switch, changing one card for another and I’ve no idea how he did that either!

After introducing himself, Pete asked us to stand and place our hands on our heads or bottom. Following a spin of a coin he asked the ‘heads’ or ‘tails’ to sit down depending on which side the coin had landed. By repeating the process only one person was left standing. Pete then produced a pre-written note that described the winning person. Magic! Whilst this was going on a passer by was seen looking into the church with much bemusement.

Although he didn’t want to encourage gambling Pete concluded with some advice on how to win at roulette. This involved following the sequence of red/black. If there had been 4 reds then probability suggests the next spin will be black. My suggestion would be to try this at home and not the casino!

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Article written by Richard Hughes, with thanks.

Our guest speaker on Friday 24^th March was Pete Turner, a professional magician for the past 26 years. A man still clearly in love with his job.

On his visit last year Pete entertained us with table magic during a celebratory lunch where he demonstrated some of his intriguing magic tricks. Pete’s talk in March was Heads I win Tails you lose and he talked about the psychology of magic and the probability of predicting the correct playing card chosen and held by a volunteer. The magician relies on probability, so has to be aware of the odds of his prediction being correct. The mathematics involved in the prediction are very complex. Pete is very fortunate to have a brother who has been able to work out the odds of the various tricks working out the way Pete had hoped.

We were astonished when, after a large number of audience members stood up, as requested by Pete were gradually eliminated. The last standing was handed a piece of paper on which Pete had earlier written the prediction that he would be the last man standing. The pre written paper had described in detail, the clothing that the man would be wearing.

Pete left his audience with a piece of advice, if you have to toss a coin at any time, use a Euro, because they don’t have ‘heads’.Thus you will always be the winner.

As always Pete left his audience entertained, baffled and bewildered, in equal measure.

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Article provided by Edwina Alcock. Photographs by John Hitchmough, with thanks.

Heads I win, Tails you lose – Pete Turner

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